The one-year or 90-day Non-Immigrant Thailand visa is the equivalent of a residence permit (there are no residence permit cards in the Kingdom) that will provide a pathway to:
- Exotic culture and hospitality of the locals.
- World-class educational programs.
- Establishing partnerships and investing in promising projects.
Thai Non-Immigrant visa
Dreaming of settling in an exotic country and enjoying the local beauty, culture, and hospitality? The visa will allow you to legally live, work, and do business in the Kingdom for up to 1 year.
Thai residence permit opens wide opportunities for a comfortable and safe life in a warm climate. It provides foreigners with a high level of freedom and convenience.
To get a Thai Non-Immigrant visa, there is no need to purchase or make investments in real estate. `You only need to meet certain criteria and provide the necessary documents.
A Non-Immigrant visa in Thailand is:
- Long-term stay: residence permit (Non-Immigrant visa) is issued for 90 days or 1 year with the possibility of annual renewal and obtaining permanent residence in Thailand for business investment.
- Multiple entry-exit: the holder of the visa is entitled to an unlimited number of trips to the country. He can freely cross the border in any direction.
- Right to work: the holder of such a visa can legally be employed or run his own business. This does not require a separate work visa.
- Family sponsorship: the visa allows for the documentation of a spouse/ minor children. This allows the entire family to legally reside and work in the country.
Non-Immigrant visa categories
One can apply for Non-Immigrant visa in Thailand and then get a permanent residence and citizenship after a long stay in the territory of the Kingdom. Each of them is intended for certain purposes, such as work, study, business, or retirement residence. There are 10 categories in total, let's consider the most common ones.
The main types of Thailand Non-Immigrant visa are:
- Thai Non-Immigrant B (Business): This visa is for those who plan to work or do business in the Kingdom. It allows you to eventually obtain a residency for investment and, if certain conditions are met, to apply for citizenship.
- Thai Non-Immigrant ED (Education): a visa for students enrolled in accredited educational institutions. After completion of studies and if you have a job, you can switch to a B visa and continue the process of obtaining a residence permit and citizenship.
- Thai Non-Immigrant O (Other): includes several sub-categories such as the Thai Non-Immigrant visa O-A for retirees, spouses of Thai nationals and volunteers. The O-A visa allows retirees to later apply for permanent residence and citizenship.
- Thai Non-Immigrant F: This visa is for persons participating in official events organized by the national government or international organizations. The possibility of obtaining permanent residence and citizenship depends on specific conditions and duration of stay.
| Visa category | Description | Validity period | Possibility to obtain residency | Possibility to obtain citizenship |
|---|
| Non-Immigrant B (Business) |
Work and Business |
90 days–1 year |
Yes, after 3 years of residence |
Yes, after 5 years of residence |
| Non-Immigrant ED (Education) |
Study |
1 year |
Yes, upon conversion to B visa |
Yes, if conditions are met |
| Non-Immigrant O-A (Retirement) |
Retirement |
1 year |
Yes, after 3 years of residence |
Yes, after 5 years of residence |
| Non-Immigrant O (Spouse) |
Spouses of Thai nationals |
1 year |
Yes, after 3 years of residence |
Yes, after 5 years of residence |
| Non-Immigrant F |
Official Events |
90 days–1 year |
Depends on conditions |
Depends on conditions |
List of Non-Immigrant visa categories
Other categories include:
- Thai Non-Immigrant visa IM.
- Thai Non-Immigrant visa M.
- Thai Non-Immigrant visa R.
- Thai Non-Immigrant visa RS.
- Thai Non-Immigrant visa EX.
- Thai Non-Immigrant visa O-X.
The process of obtaining a visa, residence permit, and citizenship in Thailand:
- Applying for a Thai Non-Immigrant visa: application is submitted to the consulate or embassy of the Kingdom in the applicant's country of residence. It is necessary to submit all required documents including passport, photographs, proof of financial solvency, and other papers and forms depending on the chosen visa category.
- Visa extension: This type of visa is usually issued for a period of 90 days to 1 year. To extend the residence permit, it is necessary to apply to the Immigration Bureau of the country and submit the documents.
- Permanent residence permit: after three years of residence under some Non-Immigrant visa categories, it is possible to apply for a residence permit. This entitles you to permanent residence in the Kingdom and opens the way to citizenship.
- Citizenship: after five years of residence, you can apply for a passport. Certain requirements must be met, including knowledge of the Thai language and integration into local society.
Thailand Non-Immigrant visa: Requirements
The Non-Immigrant visa makes the process of moving to Thailand easier and opens up the possibility of legal residence in the Kingdom for a wide range of foreign nationals. To apply for the document, you need to provide:
- Availability of legal sources of income. The applicant must confirm his or her stable financial situation. This requires providing income certificates, bank statements, information about investments or other sources of earnings.
- Absence of a criminal record. The applicant must provide a police certificate and prove that he/she has no outstanding convictions or criminal cases.
- The existence of grounds for stay. The applicant must justify the purpose of his/her extended stay in the Kingdom. Reasons such as work, business, study, family reasons, and others may be used.
- Health insurance. Immigration to Thailand requires the applicant to take out health insurance before obtaining a visa to cover all expenses for possible medical treatment.
- Payment of fees. To apply for a visa, you must pay government fees in the prescribed amount.
If you meet these conditions, you have a good chance of obtaining a residence permit.
Documents
To apply for a residence permit in the Kingdom on a Non-Immigrant visa, you will need to prepare the following documents:
- Visa application form.
- Passport. A valid passport with a notarized translation into Thai.
- Proof of financial status. Bank statements, income statements, information about investments and other sources of earnings.
- Medical certificate. Document confirming the absence of contraindications for staying in the Kingdom.
- Certificate of absence of a criminal record.
- Photographs. A set of colour photos of the established size.
- A receipt for payment of fees. A document confirming the payment of government fees for visa processing.
The exact list and requirements to the documents may vary, so we recommend to clarify the information with our specialists. They will calculate Non-Immigrant visa Thailand cost on the chosen basis and help you to prepare all the necessary papers correctly.
